Potato-digger.



POTATO BIGGER.

' APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 12, 1909. 927, 121. w Patented July 6, 1909'.

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ro'ruo BIGGER.

APPLIUATIONIIIJD J'LNL ILZIv 1909. 927,121 I Patented July 6, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

3m lion regulate the depth of cut of the share mounted UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM COOK, OF VERONA, NEW JERSEY.

POTATO-DIGGER.

.T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IliRAM Coon, a citizen of the United States,residing at Verona, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful linprovements in Potato-Diggers; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appcrtains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to a potato digger and more particularly to theclass of potato diggers having means to separate dirt from the potatoesand rake means for leveling the broken dirt after the delivery ofpotatoes from the ground.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a potato diggersupporting a vertically adjustable ground wheel, a shovel in. rear ofsaid ground wheel and having a share to plow or cut into the earth,fenders or mold boards at op positc sides of the shovel and adapted tobe angular-1y adjusted to upon the shovel, catcher rongs projectingrcarwardly from the shovel for subsequently catching or receivingvegetables such as potatoes delivered from the earth so as to separateweeds and earth from the potatoes, and rake means angularly adjustableon the rear end of the draft beam and disposed a distance behind theshovel to act upon the broken earth to crush and level the same so thatthe ground will be prepared to receive seed to permit the growth of anew crop.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a potato diggerwhich is simple in construction, thorough and efficient in op erationand inexpensive in the manufacture and which implement may be used fordigging or delivering other vegetables from the earth, as the occasionmay demand.

In the drawings zwcompanying and form ing part of this specification isillustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention which toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention will be setforth at length in the following description while the novelty of theinvention will be brought out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention. l ig. 2is a plan view. lfig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig.4 is a rear elevation on the line 4:4l of Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 12,

' ment.

Patented July 6, 1909.

1909. Serial No. 471,958.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawings.

In the drawings, the numeral 8 designates the main beam or draft barhaving fixed to its forward end a clevis 9 for the attachment of awhiflletree of the ordinary construction and to which are connecteddraft animals whereby the implement may be d rawn across a field.

Directly in rear of the draft clevis 0 is a depending leg or bracket 1.0the latter capable of vertical adjustment on the main beam andsupporting a ground wheel 11 to guide and steady the forward travel ofthe imple- At opposite sides of the main beams 8 are parallel handlebars 12 the same being inclined with respect to the ground and havingtheir lower ends slightly converging toward each other and which handlebars are united by a cross piece 12;] and to more rigidly secure thesaid. handle bars in spaced relation to each other there are provideddiagonal cross pieces or braces 14 the outer ends of which are connectedto the handle bars.

To the lower ends of the handle bars 12 is bolted a metal plate forminga shovel 15 upon whichis adjustably mount rd a share point 16 of theusual construction. Connected by aivots 17 to the shovel 15 are fendersor mold cards 18 the latter containing curved slots 19 through which.project studs 20 formed on reinforcing metal strips 21. secured to theouter faces of the handle bars and which studs 20 have threaded thereonlock nuts 22 to hold the fenders or mold boards in various adjustedpositions so as to increase or decrease the depth of cut of the shovel15 of the implement.

Beneath the shovel 15 and swiveled by bolt fasteners 23 to the handlebars 12 near their lower ends is a cross bar 24 which latter hasconnected thereto upper and lower rows of catcher prongs 25 and 20respec tively which prongs 26 are adapted to contact with the groundduring the travel of the implement and upon which prongs are caughtpotatoes which are delivered from the ground by the shovel 15 where theyare severely shaken due to the irregularity of the ground to separateweeds and clods of earth therefrom as the implement advances over afield.

Near the rear end of the main beam. 8 is fixed a depending arm 27 to thelower end of which is pivotally connected a toothed. rake head 28 whichlatter has formed thereon a perforated extension and ear 29 to which ispivotally connected the inner end of an adjusting lever 30 which latteris held securely locked in its adjusted position by a locking member 31fixed to the rear end of the main beam. It is obvious the toothed rakehead 28 is capable of being angularly adjusted so as to have its teetheffect a heavy or light raking action upon the broken earth to crush orpulverize and level the same during the forward travel or advancement ofthe implement and thus pre pare the soil for the subsequent planting ofa new crop.

Rising from the rear end of the main beam 8 are brace rods 32 whichlatter areconnected to the handle bars 12 so as to rigidly hold thelatter inclined with respect to the ground. Also connected to the handleextremities of the handle bars 12 is a rung 33 which pre vents the barsfrom spreading with respect to each other during the heavy use of theimplement.

What is claimed is 1. An implement of the class described comprising awheeled main beam, handle bars disposed at opposite sides of the mainbeam and secured thereto, a shovel fixed to the lower end of said handlebars and disposed at an inclination with respect to the ground, a sharepoint carried by said shovel, fenders vertically adjustable and mountedat opposite sides of the shovel, superposed rows of catcher prongsswiveled beneath said shovel and projecting rearwardly therefrom and anangularly adjustable rake head carried by said main beam and arranged inrear of the shovel.

2. An implement of the class described comprising a main beam, avertically adjustable ground wheel supported at the forward end of saidmain beam, a shovel ar ranged in rear of said ground wheel, handle barsrising from said shovel and having connection with the main beam,fenders pivot' ally connected at opposite sides of the shovel, meanspermitting vertical adjustment of the fenders, and rake means arrangedin rear of the shovel.

3. An implement of the class described comprising a main beam, avertically adjustable ground wheel supported at the forward end of saidmain beam, a shovel arranged in rear of said ground wheel, handle barsrising from said shovel and having connection with the main beam,fenders pivotally connected at opposite sides of the shovel, meanspermitting vertical adjustment of the fenders, rake means arranged inrear of the shovel, and catcher prongs swiveled in rear of said shoveland beneath the samev 4. An implement of the class described comprisinga main beam, a vertically adjustable ground wheel carried at the forwardend thereof, a shovel in rear of said ground wheel, a share pointadjustable on said shovel, vertically adjustable fenders mounted atopposite sides of the shovel, handle bars rising from said shovel andrigidly connected to the main beam, a catcher member swiveled to thelower ends of the handle bars beneath the shovel and having superposedrows of prongs projecting rearwardly of the shovel, and rake meansmounted on the rear end of the main beam and angularly adjustable withrespect to the ground.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

HIRAM COOK.

Witnesses BRITTON O. SYM, JOHN ORAMER.

